A NEW bank has officially opened in Southampton.

Metro Bank opened its new branch in Westquay yesterday.

The festivities kicked off at 8am with stilt walkers, live music and face-painting.

Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith and Stephen Barnes-Andrews, mayor of Southampton, cut the ribbon.

The new bank occupies premises formerly home to Starbucks which face out onto Above Bar Street.

This will be Metro’s 57th branch in the UK since its formation by US tycoon Vernon Hill.

Iain Kirkpatrick, managing director of retail banking at Metro Bank said: "The banking revolution has officially arrived in Southampton. The response among local residents and businesses has been incredible and the new Southampton team can’t wait to meet even more of the community over the coming weeks and months.”

Metro is the only so-called challenger bank to make an impact in the UK since the shake-up of the banking system following the economic crash and has 1.4 million customers.